Israel has carried out airstrikes on three ports and a power plant in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen as part of its “Black Flag” operation, confirmed Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Targeted Sites and Houthi Retaliation
According to Israel, the targets included the commercial vessel Galaxy Leader, which was hijacked by the Houthis in 2023 and allegedly used to monitor ships in international waters.
Following the Israeli strikes on the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Saif, the Israeli military reported that two rockets were launched from Yemeni territory towards Israel. Sirens were activated in several areas of Israel, and authorities stated that the results of the air defense intervention are still being reviewed, according to the BBC.
The spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Houthi armed forces declared that the group’s air defense used a large number of domestically produced missiles to counter the Israeli attack. Houthi-controlled media confirmed the strikes on the port of Hudaydah but provided no details on potential damage or casualties.
Israel’s Warning and Context of Attacks
Minister Katz issued a stark warning: “The fate of Yemen is the same as that of Tehran. Whoever tries to harm Israel will be harmed. Whoever raises a hand against Israel, that hand will be cut off.”
These latest Israeli attacks come in response to a series of missile and naval strikes carried out by Houthi rebels since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
